Getting to Know International Contact

Getting to know my international contacts has been a difficult task. The educator who taught in Japan name is Micah and  is only familiar with special needs children and elementary school children. He did not teach in early childhood field. Micah did state that the start date for school in Japan is April where the US differs-especially each state has various start dates for school. The resource Micah did give me to research are the key words Yochien and Hoikuen. According to City of Ichikawa (English Website) explains the difference in care of the yochien and hoikuen -"The objectives and responsibilities of pre-school education facilities vary. Nursery schools (Hoikuen) are child welfare facilities that conform to the Child Welfare Law. Hoikuen takes the place of parents in caring for their children in case they have to work, take medical treatment, and other reasons that prove difficult for them to look after them. On the other hand, the establishment of Kindergarten schools (Yochien) conforms to the School Education Law and is designated as an educational institution that aims to nurture and teach children the basics of compulsory education.  Since Hoikuen differ from Yochien in its objective and responsibilities, the contents of Hoikuen education and entrance conditions are also different. Education and training in Hoikuen facilities are carried out by day care nurses from the point of view of welfare, while Yochien education is carried out by teachers from the point of view of education. Commonly but not necessarily, Hoikuen provide meals and sleeping hours, and may allow children to stay for long hours. Some Yochiens require packed lunch to be brought by children and leave school at 2:00 PM (11:30 on Wednesdays).(2010, City of Ichikawa).

In June 192013, Japan House of Representative approved measures to the Child Poverty Law. Child poverty in Japan ranks high among a 31 nation survey. The poverty rate in Japan is 15.7% which means that 3.26 million children in Japan live in poverty. According to, The law on measures to counter child poverty finally enacted, "Without proper support, these children are more likely to fall into low-income groups when they become adults. Breaking this chain of poverty is critical. Poor children are not responsible for their poverty. It is our society’s duty to support them. This understanding is gradually spreading and has contributed to the passage of this recent bill. Collaboration and support from members of End Child Poverty Japan, including Professor Naomi Yuzawa of Rikkyo University and a co-representative of the organization, proved instrumental in pushing for the passage of this important piece legislation."(2012 ASHINAGA).

Resources:
City of Ichikawa 2010 retrieved from http://www.city.ichikawa.lg.jp/english/guide/0134.html
Ashinaga 2012  retrieved from http://www.ashinaga.org/en/entry-669.html